FARMVILLE ON FACEBOOK

If you're on FB and not playing Farmville, then you're missing out.

You miss out on control. Most things in this world we cannot control, hard as we may try. But you can decide when and what to plant, how much effort you want to expend, who your neighbors are, and what your farm will look like.

You miss out on community. I have neighbors who help my farm by giving me gifts. One of my neighbors, a high school friend and former school superintendent, never ever gave me a gift. (I'm so tempted to add a sarcastic comment here, but I do have other friends who were also excellent administrators, too, so I'll think of Bob and them instead of some others.) Until he became my neighbor. Just today he gifted me with a gold bar. Wow! He did ask for a return gift and I provided. After farmers accumulate so much gold, then they can cash it in for castles, fountains, or St. Patty's sheep. But there's definitely a community spirit of being dependent upon other farm friends and helping them out, too.

Being in daily or tri-daily contact with them playing Farmville helps relieve stress. You have a commonality that you're not completely goofy as you add or alter your imaginary farm. Or if you are a little out of balance, then so are others. There's always comfort in numbers. Also it helps curb my night time appetite as I try to claim the Mystery Egg,(instead of eating one) or try to cash in a ribbon that another was rewarded for Tree Hugging, for instance.

If I haven't convinced you to join Facebook and/or Farmville, then I've failed at selling an activity that stimulates. Maybe I should have pointed out how it helps manual dexterity when clicking on a little balloon to calm your bull, collect your eggs or goose feathers, or harvest your breadfruit tree.